Mold for making hollow concrete casts



F.E.KRUCKENBERG MOLD FOR MAKING HOLLOW CONCRETE GAST 2 Sheets-Shes Filed spt. 14, 195s HVVE OR.

ATTORNEY 9 y Nm. ww N I 1 VNTOR 2 Sheets-Sheec 2 F E KRUCKENBERG MOLD Foa MAKING HoLLow CONCRETE cAsTs Filed sept. 14, 193s ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 22, 1940 `UNITED' STATES MOLD Fon MAKING HoI'LLoW cAs'rsrv Fred E. Kruckenberg, Fort` Wayne, Ind. `Application September 14, 1938, SerialNo. 229,349 `v '7 Claims.

This invention relates t'o molds for making hollow concrete casts such as burial vaults.

An object of the invention is to provide a mold Y with a base, outer end and side walls detachably connected together, and an expansible core provided With mechanism whereby to selectively expand or contract the walls of the core.

Another object of the invention is to construct the core ofv flexible metallic sheets provided on their inner faces with reenforce members so arranged as to permit the top wall and those portions of the` side walls adjacent `thereto to be 'exed upon expansion or contraction ofthe core structure.

And a further object of the` invention is to provide a .mold having an expansble core provided with mechanism for expanding and contracting same, which mechanism includes operating members that are manipulated from the exterior of the mold.

. Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mold in which the invention is incorporated, portions thereof being cut away;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the mold, the outer side walls and a concrete cast `formed in the mold be- 0 ing in section;

g .Fig. 3 is a section of Figi on the line 3-3 thereof, the outer Walls being omitted and the core shown in expanded position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 1 on the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 1 on the line 5-5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section-showing the manner of connecting the side and end plates of the core with the bus bars;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of the core and base, thesection being on the line 3-3 of Fig. .1, and the core being in contracted position; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the mold,

the outer end and side walls being in section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention is constituted of a base, an exterior mold form, an expansible core and actuating mechanism associated with various parts of the core provided with means for operating the mechanism.

The base There is provided a horizontal rectangular base-frame I, preferably formed of side and end beams 2 andl 3 `made of angle-iron shapes, and a series of guide-rodsll, spaced apart, are mounted transversely in the base-frame with their opposite ends secured in the vertical flanges of the corresponding side-beams. rAlso, upon the top flanges of the beams, which liein a'common horizontal plane, are secured iron channels 5 arranged to form an open groove that extends continuously and entirely around thebase-frame, said guiderods and channels being for purposes hereinafter 10 mentioned.

The mold form The exterior of the mold is constituted of outer end and side walls 6 and 1 respectively disposed 15 in vertical planes and arranged in rectangular formation. The end and side walls each have secured upon their outer faces horizontal anglebars 8- 9 so disposed that when said walls are arranged in operative position, the ends ofthe bar 9 on the side walls extend over and rest upon the corresponding projecting ends of the bars 8 on the end walls, and there are provided pins I0 that extend through the overlapping ends of said bars by which said bars are detachably secured together, thus to hold the mold walls in operative position.

When the mold walls are positioned upon the base, their lower edges extend into the groove, afforded by the iron channels 5, and bear outwardly against the outer upturned flanges II thereof, thereby confining the mold walls in denite operating position.

The core A hollow shell is formed of flexible sheet metal which has an arcuate top plate I 2, lend plates I 3-I4 and side plates I 5. The upper edges of the side plates are inturned and abut the corresponding outer edges of the top plate I2, the inturned portions of the side plates being preferably shaped to form rounded flexible shoulders I6. The top plate is in two parts I2-I2 that extend longitudinally with respect to the shell with their inner edges abutting each other. Said parts are connected together by transversely disposed flexible metallic straps I'I secured to the inner faces of said parts at points spaced apart from each other and which permit upward fiexure'of the top plate along the abutting line of its two parts. 'Ihe ends of said straps extend under the inturned portions of the side plates and are sc cured thereto thus to hold the abutting edges of the top plate and side plates together.

The plates I3-I4 that form the ends of the shell are secured respectively at their outer edges to the corresponding ends of the side plates I5, there being a vertically disposed angle-iron I8 attached to the inner faces of the connected plates. The inner edges of the plates I3-I4 abut each other when the core is adjusted into operative position, and the upper edges of said plates are shaped to conform to the arcuate top plate I2 and underlie to a partial extent the corresponding ends of said top plate. When in operative position, the end plates I3--I4 extend in a common vertical plane but are suiiiciently flexible to permit disalinement thereof so that upon contraction of the shell the inner edges of said end plates overlap each other, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thus to permit upward iiexure of the top plate I2 and inward movement of the side plates I5.

Upon the inner faces of the side plates I5'are secured vertically disposed angle-bars I9 the lower ends of which extend beyond the corresponding lower edges of the side plates I5 and havesecured thereto corresponding bus-bars 20 through which the guiderods 4 in the base loosely extend and upon which said angle-bars have sliding movement axially with respect to said guiderods. The connections between the angle-bars I9 and the bus-bars 20 preferably are made by means ofbent bolts 2l, and` the ends of the bus- -bars are secured to the angle-irons I8 that connect the corresponding ends of the side and end `platesby meansof brackets 22 (Fig. 6).

Upon the inner face of each plate I3-I4 is secured a ledge 25, the upper flange 26 of which extends ,inwardly and underlies the corresponding'end of the top sheet I2 'and is disposed flush with the curved upper end of the plate to which it vis attached. These ledges afford support for the ends of the top plate and prevent obstruction of the' end plates with the top plate when the former re moved inwardly beneath the top plate.

,Along the inner edge of each end plate I3, upon lthe inner face thereof, is secured a cleat 23, preferably formed of angle-iron, so disposed that when the end plates I3-I4 are alined, the cleat overlaps the inner edge of the end plate I4. Also, 'upontheinner faces of the end plates I3-I4 are secured vertically disposed reenforce bars 24, spaced apart approximately midway between the outer and inner edges of said plates, that prevent flexure of said plates upon a horizontal axis. The shell thus constructed constitutes an exp-ansible core for the mold.

The actuating mechanism Within the core there is arranged mechanism by means of which the walls of the shell are placed in' denite operative position on the base, as when the core is expanded, and also for co-ntracting the core when required. The actuating mechanism consists of a beam 21 having connected therewith, at their inner ends, toggle arms v28 by means of bent bolts 29. The outer ends of said toggle arms are pivotally connected with the 'upper ends of the angle-bars I9 on the side plates l5. 'I'he beam Z'I has attached thereto jack-bars 39, the lower ends of which have connection with 'corresponding actuating cranks 3l, so that the top and side plates of the shell are moved accordingly as the cranks are turned. The shafts 32 of said cranks are provided with supports consisting of crossbeams 33 secured to the bottom of the base-frame I, in transverse position relative thereto, and bearing straps 34 secured to said crossbeains in which said shafts are journaled. AlSO, there are provided other cranks 35 the shafts 36 of which are similarly mounted in bearing straps 3'I on corresponding crossbeams 38 secured tothe bottom of the base-frame. A lever 39 is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the bar 24 on each end plate I3 at a point thereon adjacent its upper end, the connection being made preferably by a bent bolt 40. Said lever also has connection by means of another bent bolt 4I with the corresponding bar 23 on the plate I3. The free end of each lever 39 has contact with the bar 24`on the corresponding end plate I4 when the end plates I3-I4 are moved into abutting position, thus securing proper alinement thereof when the core is expanded.

Each lever 39 is pivotally connected by means of a bolt 42 with one end of a connecting bar 43 that has pivotal connection at its opposite end with the corresponding crank 35, so that upon movement of the crank 35 the end plate I3 is actuated through the medium of the lever 39 accordingly.

A ,second lever44 is pivotallyconnected at one of its ends to the bar 24 on the corresponding end plateV I3 at a'point adjacent the lower end thereof kby means 'of a bent bolt 45 andv is similarlyconnected by a bent bolt 46 with the cleat 23 adjacent the lower end thereof. The free end of the lever 44 has contact with the bar 24 on the plate I4 when the plates I3-I4 are moved into alinement, thus sustaining the end plates in properoperating position. In each end beam 3 ofthe base-frame there is provided a jack-screw 4l disposed to move inwardly or outwardly accordingly as turned,vthe inner end of which extends loosely through the corresponding lever 44 and has thereon collars 48 that bear upon opposite. sides of said. lever, so that when `said jacknection with the base, it receives support upon the guide-rods 4, and the side plates I5,are.relatively movable thereon outwardly to their operative positions against theinner lips 50 of the iron chan-V nels 5, or are movable inwardly, by action of the jackgscrews v49.

The heads of the `,bolts 41 and 49 extendoutwardly from the base frame where they .are accessible for manipulation, and the shafts 32 and 39extend outwardly through the adjacent side beam 2. and have thereon corresponding operating levers 32'-36' by which said shaftsA are manipulated.

. Operation In operation, the top plate I2, side plates I5, and the end plates I3-I4 are moved into operative or expanded position by manipulation of the operating levers 32-36 and the jack-screws 49 and 4'I. When thus positioned the lower marginal edges of the side plates I5 and end plates I3--I4 bear against the upturned lip 50 of the iron channel 5. The outer end and side walls 6 and "I are then positioned on the base-frame with their lower edges adjusted in the groove of the iron channels 5 againstthe outer upturned flange II thereof, said wal-ls rbeing secured together by the pins wthat are insertedgthrough.theextremb ties of the bars 8 and 9. Concrete in a plastic state is then poured into the space between the core and the outer mold walls and spread over the top of the core to a suitable thickness. Also, in practice, a suitable reenforce wire netting mot shown) is inserted so as to become imbedded in the concrete cast 5| as in the usual practice.

After the concrete cast has set, or substantiaily solidified, the outer mold walls are removed, and after the cast has completely set, the core is contracted by manipulation of the jack-screws 41 and 49 and the operating levers 32' and 36', which causes inward movement of the side walls I5 and end walls I3 and flexure of the top plate I2 as well as the shoulders i6. In this manner pressure of the core plates against the cast is uni-` versally removed therefrom, thereby permitting the cast to be bodily lifted free from the rrnold.

Variations from the particular construction above disclosed may readily be made by exercise of engineering skill without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention, and the following claims are intended to be inclusive of such variations.

What I claim is:

1. A mold for making hollow concrete casts including a base, an outer wall structure carried by the base, a core mounted on the base and including side walls and a top, means connecting the top and side walls to provide for movement of the latter toward and away from each other, end walls for the core composed .of sections having confronting edge portions which are movable toward and away from each other, members threaded through the base and having means for rotating same externally of the base, means to connect the threaded members to the sides, whereby to move the sides toward and away from each other, upon rotation of the members, other members threaded through the base adjacent each end of the core and having means for rotating same exteriorly of the base, and means to connect said other threaded members to one of the adjacent sections of each core end for moving one section at each end toward and away from the other upon rotation of said other threaded members.

2. A mold in accordance with claim 1, wherein there aremeans operable exteriorly of the mold for moving the upper portions of the sides toward and away from each other, and wherein there are other means operable exteriorly of the mold for moving the upper portion of one of the sections of the respective core end walls toward and away from the other.

3. A mold in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for connecting said other threaded members to the sections of the core ends each includes a lever which is pivoted at one end to one of the sections and has its other end overlapping the other section, and wherein the said other threaded members are rotatably connected to the levers.

4. A mold in accordance with claim 1, wherein there are means operable exteriorly of the mold for moving the upper portion of oneof the sections of the respective core end walls toward and away from the other and which includes a lever pivoted at one end to one section and having its opposite end overlapping the other section.

5. A mold in Aaccordance with claim 1, wherein there are vertical members connected to the sides, wherein there are bus bars connected to the lower ends of the vertical members and to which the rst named threaded members are connected and wherein there are means having connection with the upper portions of the vertical members for moving the upper portions of the sides toward and away from each other.

6. A mold for making hollow concrete casts including a base, an outer wall structure carried by the base, a core mounted on the base and including side walls and a top, means connecting the top and side walls to provide for movement of the latter toward and away from each other, end walls for the core composed of sections connected to the side walls having confronting edge portions which are movable toward and away from each other, means operable exteriorly of the mold and connected to the sides for moving the upper portions of the sides toward and away from each other, means operable exteriorly of the mold and connected to the sides to move the bottoms of the sides toward and away from each other, means operable exteriorly of the mold and connected to one of the sections of the respective core end walls for moving same toward and away from the other at their upper portions, and means operable exteriorly of the mold and connected to one of the sections of the core ends for moving same toward and away from the other core end section at their lower portions.

7. A mold in accordance with claim 6, wherein the top of the core is flexible whereby same is simultaneously flexed during contraction .of the core so as to be moved away from the concretey cast.

FRED E. KRUCKENBERG. 

